Method and device for closing a door of an aircraft

ABSTRACT

A door, especially an aircraft door, is first closed, for example manually. Then the door is first latched by a latching mechanism and locked by a locking mechanism. The latching mechanism and the locking mechanism are operatively connected through respective force transmitting couplings to a common drive in such a way that the latching mechanism is first moved to establish a latching position. Then, with a delay, the locking mechanism is moved into a locking position by the same drive to establish a latched and locked position.

PRIORITY CLAIM

[0001] This application is based on and claims the priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of German Patent Application 100 20 825.8, filed on Apr. 28, 2000, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The invention relates to a method and a device for closing a door, particularly of an aircraft. When a door is closed in a closed position, it is then also brought into a latched position, whereby the door is latched in the frame of the fuselage structure by a latch mechanism.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

[0003] Conventional aircraft doors have at least one latch mechanism with a drive shaft drivable by a latch drive. The drive shaft is connected to a latch element arranged on a latch axis or shaft and to the latch drive. The latch element is adapted for engaging a latch stop arranged in the frame of the aircraft structure. German Patent Publication DE 197 02 084 C1 discloses such a door for an aircraft. The door is moved from an open position to a closed position and then to a latched position, with the door being latched in the frame of the fuselage structure by a latch mechanism.

[0004] It is further known to guide a door, during closing at the end of the swinging-in movement, along a stroke motion path which essentially conforms to the exterior contour of the aircraft. The stroke motion path is essentially aligned transversely to the swinging direction of the passenger door. At the end of the swinging path and at the start of the stroke motion path, the passenger door is lowered and guided into a closed position by a manual operation of a hand lever. The closed position involves a positive engagement of the stop elements which are fixed to the door, with the accommodating elements which are fixed to the door frame. At this stage the hand lever has not yet completed its entire travel path. There is still a small distance to be traversed by the hand lever. A further manual operation of the hand lever along the travel path until the limit position of the hand lever has been reached, latches the passenger door in the closed position by means of a door latch mechanism. The latch mechanism brings the door into a latched position and holds it there. The latch mechanism for a passenger door functions independently of a support device and of a tilt-position control of the passenger door. In the structurally simplest case the passenger door is latched by a bolt or a hook movable into a latching position, whereby the bolt engages an anchorage in the door frame of the aircraft structure, or the hook reaches behind a stop. The latch mechanism with the bolt or hook is for example activated by a rotatable drive shaft which is connected to the manually operable hand lever.

[0005] Aircraft which are in service today are equipped with doors which are manually swingable, by activating a hand lever, into the closed position and onward into the latched position. The force of the hand lever is transmitted to the latching axis or shaft with the bolt or hook through a drive shaft and a rod assembly.

[0006] Dynamic loads on the door during the flight can result in vibrations which may cause a reversal of the latch action. This can lead to the danger of the passenger door opening during flight. Such a danger might also exist if the latch drive breaks.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0007] In view of the above it is an object of the invention to achieve the following objects singly or in combination:

[0008] to avoid door failures particularly during flight, and especially of the latch mechanism of an aircraft door;

[0009] to provide an economical door latching and locking mechanism useful for any door but particularly suitable for various types of aircraft doors;

[0010] to latch and safety lock a door, such as an aircraft door, with a single drive that is operable either by a hand lever or a motor, preferably moving in the same direction for all functions; and

[0011] to avoid using separate drives for the latching and safety locking functions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The method according to the invention achieves the foregoing objects in that a latch mechanism which holds the door in a latched position is locked by means of a safety lock mechanism which due to a delayed movement of a respective force transmission coupling is activated by a single drive, whereby the latching and safety locking steps are performed in sequence by the same drive.

[0013] The above objects have been further achieved by an apparatus according to the invention in that a single drive shaft for a latching mechanism is also connected to a safety lock mechanism by a respective force transmission coupling. The safety lock mechanism is hingeably or slideably held on a lock axis. Further, the safety lock mechanism is arranged so as to engage a lock element attached to a latch axis.

[0014] In the case of an existing latch mechanism, the latch drive is guided according to the invention along a remaining travel distance by means of a single drive for the latching and the locking, with a delayed movement of the safety locking mechanism into a safety locking position with a slightly spaced apart engagement with a lock element on the latch axis. The delayed movement is transferred to the lock element or elements from the single drive through a second force transmission coupling, with the latch drive or first force transmission coupling remaining in the latching position. The single drive and first and second couplings or force transmissions comprise for example a gear arrangement. Preferred, however are coupling rods and journal links. Gear wheels, cam disks or a cam controls are also suitable for realizing the first and second couplings. However, the use of rods and journal links with angular positions and dead points is particularly cost-effective. According to a special embodiment, these rods and links with angular positions and dead centers or points constitute the force transmission couplings between the single drive and the latching and safety locking mechanisms. An intermediate shaft can be arranged between the drive shaft and the lock drive or between the drive shaft and the latch drive. In this way, the movement mechanism can be optimized.

[0015] According to a further embodiment, the latch axis or shaft can be connected to a transmission mechanism which synchronizes latching and locking of a vent flap in the door, relative to the latch and lock mechanism of the door. Similarly, an indicator for showing the door status “closed”, “latched” and “safety locked” may be coupled to the single drive. According to a further embodiment, the drive shaft can be connected to a transmission mechanism which guides the door from an open position to a closed position and vice versa.

[0016] The invention is suitable for use in doors other than aircraft passenger doors. Any closure that needs to be latched and locked can be equipped with the present apparatus. The term door is intended to include, e.g., any freight door, any cargo hatch closure, any closable engine fairing or any other closures that are not subject to pressure, in the secondary structure of an aircraft such as cabin doors and closures of passageways between decks. The term door further includes any closure cover which in its open position is not connected to the frame of a fuselage structure.

[0017] The invention provides the advantage that with only one drive, which already exists for the purpose of latching, the additional function of “safety locking” is achieved, whereby savings are achieved by avoiding additional production costs and additional door weight. There is no increase in inspection expenditure.

[0018] Although the latching and following safety locking involves an additional operator function at the door, the operator comfort achieved by a single drive is maintained, particularly since any direction reversal of the drive between latching and safety locking is avoided according to the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] In order that the invention may be clearly understood, it will now be described in connection with example embodiments, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0020]FIG. 1 is a diagram of a first embodiment according to the invention in a latched position and in a locked latched position also referred to as “safety locked” position;

[0021]FIG. 2A shows a second embodiment of the present apparatus in its unlatched and unlocked position;

[0022]FIG. 2B shows the apparatus of FIG. 2A in the latched position but still in the unlocked position; and

[0023]FIG. 2C shows the apparatus of FIG. 2A in the latched position and in the safety locked position.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS AND OF THE BEST MODE OF THE INVENTION

[0024] The passenger door 20, 200 as such is a construction which is known from DE 197 02 084 C1 mentioned above. The passenger door is hingeable by a support arm on one side of the door frame DF of the aircraft fuselage F, so as to be liftable, swingable, and lowerable.

[0025] The following description refers to FIG. 1 and explains the latching and locking functions achieved according to the invention by a movement mechanism or drive D. FIG. 1 shows the device according to the invention in a “latched and safety locked position”.

[0026] During a closing operation of a passenger door or a freight door, for the sake of brevity, herein referred to as “door”, an operator swings the door from an open position along a swinging-in path. At the end of the swinging-in path, the door is positioned in front of a door opening formed by a door frame DF in the fuselage F. The operator in the interior of the passenger cabin operates the drive lever 10 of the drive D in the direction of the arrow A clockwise. The drive lever 10 can be a hand lever and/or an electric motor and gear MG with a motor control system. The electric motor and gear MG can for example be an individual drive for a latch mechanism or it can be a central drive which is activated by a switching gear assembly as required.

[0027] The drive lever 10 is connected to a drive shaft 11 which is rotatably mounted in the door structure. The lever 10 is guidable along a section of an arc-shaped track for approximately 110°. The lever 10 can be independently operated either by an operator positioned inside or outside the aircraft cabin. When the drive lever 10 is operated, the door is lowered along a stroke motion path into a closed position. The closed position involves a positive engagement of stop elements which are fixed to the door side, with respective catch elements which are fixed to the door frame DF secured to the aircraft fuselage.

[0028] Immediately after the door has assumed the closed position, a movement of a latch element 13, arranged on a latch axis or shaft 17, takes place into cooperation with a retention member or stop 14 by way of further movement of the drive shaft 11 and a first force transmission coupling 12 also referred to as a latch drive 12 coupled to the drive shaft 11 by a journal link J4. When latch element 13 and the stop member 14 are engaged the latching is complete. The latch element 13 can for example be a hook or a roller; correspondingly, the retention member 14 can be an eyelet, a roller, or an opposite fitting capable of cooperating with the element 13. The stop member 14 is arranged in the door frame of the aircraft fuselage F. The movement path of the latch element 13 is limited by at least one further stop 13′. The latch drive 12 for example comprises a rod assembly with angular positions and dead centers or dead points for transmitting power from the drive 10 through the shaft 11 to the latch axis 17 which is mounted for rotation in the door structure. However, other types of drives may be used, e.g. an eccentric cam disk or the like.

[0029] The latch element 13 and a first safety lock element 16 are both rigidly mounted on the latch axis or latch shaft 17. Therefore, the lock element 16 also moves to a limit position, whereby the door is latched in the “latched position”, i.e. the latch element 13 engages the retention member 14 while the first lock element 16 is in its limit position.

[0030] In this latched position with the first lock element 16 in its limit position, the arrangement or position of the components 16, 19 and 13, 14 relative to each other is such, according to the invention, that a small additional movement of the drive 10 is possible. More specifically, when the latched position is reached, the drive 10 still has a small remaining angular distance to travel (approximately 4°) to the limit position of its arc-shaped track. This is possible by the angular arrangement of the drives 12 and 15 relative to each other. It has been found that this small additional movement of the drive 10 can be advantageously used to operate the safety lock mechanism of the invention. Thus after the latched position has been attained, a delayed movement of a second safety lock element 19 becomes possible. This delayed “lock movement” is possible as a result of the present construction of the movement mechanism or drive D, which is located within the door, and comprises the drive shaft 11, the latch drive 12 or first force transmission coupling, the lock drive 15 or second force transmission coupling, the latch axis 17 or shaft and the lock axis 18 or shaft. The movement mechanism or drive D of the invention is preferably, but not necessarily, constructed of coupling rod assemblies and journal links J1, J2, J3 and J4 capable of assuming angular positions and dead points. This force transmission system allows a delayed movement, so to speak, of the second lock element 19 after the latching position has been reached. The angular movement of the coupling rod assemblies is possible due to the journal links.

[0031] The rod assemblies of the movement mechanism D forming the first force transmission coupling 12 and the second force transmission coupling 15 could also be combined with cam disks, gear wheels or with a cam control or a so-called Maltese cross. The use of other forms of force transmission couplings is also possible. According to another embodiment, the movement mechanism or drive D could also be constructed so that an intermediate shaft is arranged between the lock drive or coupling 15 and the drive shaft 11 or between the latch drive or coupling 12 and the drive shaft 11. However, basically this does not alter the described function of the present apparatus. In addition, force-exerting elements, such as springs S, can lock or bias the movement mechanism or drive D in its limit position or positions.

[0032] When the drive lever 10 traverses the remaining travel distance (approximately 4°), the lock drive or coupling 15 is activated since the coupling 15 is journalled by the link J1 and a lever arm 11′ to the drive shaft 11. The slight rotation of the drive shaft 11 transmits the force to the lock drive or coupling 15, whereby the latch drive or coupling 12 moves through and beyond a dead point, that is, past a neutral position thereby abutting the latch element 13 against an end stop 14 so that forces other than those provided by the drive 10, 11 cannot apply an opening moment to the rod assembly. Further, the latch drive or coupling 12 cannot leave the latching position, for example as a result of vibrations, because the latching position is, as mentioned, a position beyond the dead point of the coupling 12.

[0033] The upper end of the lock drive or coupling 15 is journalled by a journal link J2 to a second locking member 19. One end of the second locking member 19 is connected to a lock axis 18 which either forms a journal for the member 19 or is itself journalled in the door structure, so that the second locking member 19 may be rotated counterclockwise into a locking position or clockwise into a disengaged position. Preferably, a spring S biases the second locking member 19 into the locking position. The lock drive 15 drives the lock member 19 with its head 191 directly in front of a stop 161 of the first lock member 16. In this position the first locking member 16 and the second locking member 19 are effectively engaged with each other at 161, 191 yet slightly spaced apart. If, for any reason, the latch axis 17 is moved in the direction of a door opening, and if, at the same time there is a failure within the latch drive 12, the first lock 16 and the second lock 19 remain positively engaged to maintain the safety locking function.

[0034] The lock member 16 is firmly connected to the latch axis 17 and thus locks any reverse rotation of the latch axis if the latch drive 12 should fail, whereby unlatching is positively prevented, since the latch axis 17 is locked at 161, 191 against unwanted reverse rotation out of the latched position. The door has reached a so-called “latched and locked position”.

[0035] When the latch element 13 is functioning properly, the lock mechanism with the first lock member 16 and the second lock member 19, are not subjected to any loads, yet these members 16, 19 are functionally in a locking position or in a locking “ready” position. If the latch axis 17 is subjected to loads and if at the same time there is a fault in the latch drive 12, the second lock member 19 is pushed against the first lock member 16, thus locking the latch axis 17 against reverse or clockwise rotation out of the latched position. It is also advantageous if the free play for the latch element 13 is relatively large prior to any movement which lifts the door is initiated.

[0036] If cam disks are used in the movement mechanism or drive D, then these disks should be constructed so that in the latched and locked position, no forces must act on the lock 19 as a result of the latching operation.

[0037]FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C show sequentially the movements of the latching and locking mechanism according to the invention. The latch mechanism uses a latching roller 130 and an armature as a retention or stop member 140. The drive D comprises a drive lever 100, but it could instead be an electric motor and gear drive MG as shown in FIG. 1.

[0038]FIG. 2A shows a door 200 having mounted in its structure the movement mechanism or drive D, whereby the door 200 is shown to be neither latched nor locked. A latching axis or shaft 170 is mounted for rotation in the door structure.

[0039] The drive lever 100 is rigidly attached to the drive shaft 110 and has been moved clockwise downwardly to bring the door 200 into the “closed position”. As is shown, the drive shaft 110 carries three lever arms 111, 112 and 114 rigidly secured to the shaft 110 at defined angular positions relative to each other around an axis 110′. The shaft 110 is rotatably mounted in the door structure. A coupling rod 113 with spring means (not shown) is movably held or journalled in the arm 112. A lock drive 150 forming a second force transmission is journalled by a journal 111′ in the arm 111. A latch drive 120 is journalled by a journal 114′ in the arm 114. The latch drive 120 is located away or axially displaced from a stop 121. The upper end of the lock drive 150 is journalled in a fork by a journal 150′ to a second locking member 190. If the locking member 190 is journalled to a lock axis 180 the latter is rigidly mounted in the door structure. This arrangement may be reversed.

[0040] The latch drive 120 forming a first force transmission is movably held or journalled at 114′ in the arm 114 of the drive shaft 110. The upper end of the drive 120 is movably held or journalled at 120′ in an arm 132 of a latch axis 170. The latch axis 170 carries a first lock member 160 and, on an arm 131, a first latch element 130 which can be moved against a stop 135 secured in the door structure. Furthermore, a rod 134 with spring means not shown is movably journalled on an arm 133, for example for the purpose of operating an indicator not shown but provided to display the latched and locked states of the door. A retention means or second latch element 140 is attached to the frame of the aircraft structure or fuselage F. The first latch element 130 will engage a second latch element 140 as will be described below.

[0041]FIG. 2B shows the present device in a “latched position” but not yet in a “locked and latched position”. As is shown, the drive lever 100 has been tilted further downwardly thereby rotating the drive shaft 110 counterclockwise about the axis 110′. Consequently the latch drive 120 has been moved up, thus rotating the latch shaft 170 clockwise about its axis 170′. During this further rotation of the latch axis 170, the arm 131 with the first latch element 130 was pushed to engage the retention or second latch element 140, whereby the roller forming the latch element 130, was guided to its limit position, i.e. into the “latched position”. The latched position is reached and the arm 131 rests against a stop 135.

[0042] Furthermore, FIG. 2B shows that the first lock element 160 is positioned in its limit position relative to the second lock element 190, since during the latching motion the lock element 190 with its cam was tilted toward the lock element 160. However, the lock element 160 and the lock element 190 are not yet fully engaged; they are still spaced apart. Thus the “latched and locked” position has not yet been reached.

[0043]FIG. 2C shows the present device in the “latched position” and in the “latched and locked position”. This state was reached in that the drive lever 100 was moved along a small remaining angular travel distance to its limit position, whereby the arm 114 of the drive shaft 110 rests against a stop 121. In this way, in addition to the “latched position” as shown in FIG. 2B, a “latched and locked position” is reached. By respectively constructing the drive D, more specifically properly angularly spacing the drive arms 111 and 114 relative to each other around the axis 110′ the additional movement for the lock drive 150 is achieved in addition to the operation of the latch drive 120. As mentioned the described drive mechanism of rods and journal links with angular positions and dead points is most efficient and cost effective for this purpose. As the latch drive 120 rests against the stop 121, the arm 131 of the latch element 130 rests against the stop means 135.

[0044]FIG. 2C further shows that the cam or head of the second lock element 190 engages the first lock element 160, at a slight distance. This provides a safeguard against any unintentional reverse rotation of the latch axis 170 when a failure occurs or the latch drive 120 is deformed. Thus, in addition to the “latched position”, the “latched and locked position” has been reached.

[0045] Opening of the door takes place in the reverse order. When the drive D, particularly the lever 100 is moved counterclockwise, first the “latched and locked position” and then the “latched and closed positions” are cancelled. The door is lifted and can now swing open.

[0046] According to another embodiment, the invention makes it possible, by way of the rotary movement of the latch axis 17, for example additionally to move a vent flap (not shown) in a passenger door, by means of a suitable transmission mechanism. For example the link 134 could be used for this purpose instead of driving an indicator. In this way, in a synchronized switching action towards the latched and locked position, the vent flap, too, is latched and locked. This is an additional advantage. A synchronized control of all components driven by the same drive D is achieved, for example for a movable display or indicator arranged in the door. Furthermore, it would also be possible to move the door from an open position to the closed position by the same drive D through the link and rod 113.

[0047] Although the invention has been described with reference to specific example embodiments, it will be appreciated that it is intended to cover all modifications and equivalents within the scope of the appended claims. It should also be understood that the present disclosure includes all possible combinations of any individual features recited in any of the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for closing, latching and safety locking a door, said method comprising the following steps: (a) providing a single drive (10, 100) for said latching and said safety locking of said door, (b) moving said door from an open position into a closed position for closing said door, (c) operating said single drive (10, 100) for activating a latching mechanism for latching said door to establish a closed and latched position, (d) continuing to operate said single drive (10, 100) thereby causing a delayed activation of a safety lock mechanism following said latching to establish a latched and safety locked position of said door by an operation of said single drive.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said steps (a) to (d) are applied to an aircraft door.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein said single drive is operated in said steps (c) and (d) in the same direction for said latching and for said closing.
 4. An apparatus for latching and safety locking a door in a door frame, said apparatus comprising: (a) a single drive including a drive shaft for said latching and safety locking of said door, (b) a latching mechanism (13, 17) and a separate safety locking mechanism (18, 19), (c) a first force transmission (12) coupling said latching mechanism (13) to said drive shaft (11) of said single drive (10) for driving said latching mechanism (13) into a latching position relative to said door frame (14), (d) a second force transmission (15) coupling said separate safety locking mechanism to said drive shaft (11) of said single drive (10) for moving said safety locking mechanism into a safety locking position, (e) wherein said separate safety locking mechanism comprises a first locking member (16, 160) as part of said door, and (f) wherein said separate safety locking mechanism further comprises a locking shaft (18, 180) carrying a second locking member (19, 190) operable by said second force transmission (15) into a locking position cooperating with said first locking member (16, 160) to establish a latched and safety locked condition by said single drive.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said first force transmission and said second force transmission are both connected to said drive shaft of said single drive in such angularly spaced positions relative to each other that said safety locking mechanism is operated into its final locking position after operation of said latching mechanism for positioning said second locking member into a position for cooperating with said first locking member when said door is latched.
 6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said latching mechanism comprises a latching shaft (17, 170) and wherein said first and second force transmissions comprise coupling rods (12, 15; 120, 150) and journal links (111′, 150′; 120′, 114′) for operatively connecting said single drive shaft (10, 110) to said latching shaft of said mechanism and to said safety locking mechanism (19, 190).
 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said latching mechanism and said safety locking mechanism comprise respective cooperating cam elements for a latching operation and for a following separate safety locking operation.
 8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said coupling rods of said first and second force transmission couplings assume defined angular positions and dead points in said latching position and in said safety locking position.
 9. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising in at least one of said first and second force transmissions, an intermediate shaft between said single drive shaft and said latching mechanism or between said single drive shaft and said safety locking mechanism.
 10. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a vent flap in said door, a latching shaft (17, 170) operatively connected through said first force transmission coupling to said single drive shaft, said apparatus further comprising a coupling link between said latching shaft (17, 170) and said vent flap for operating said vent flap of said door in synchronism with an operation of said latching mechanism for latching and said locking mechanism for locking said vent flap.
 11. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a door status indicator for indicating a current door status, a latching shaft (17, 170) operatively coupled to said single drive shaft, and a synchronizing transmission between said indicator and latching shaft for indicating that the door is closed, latched and locked or unlocked, unlatched and open.
 12. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a door closing and opening linkage operatively connected to said single drive.
 13. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said locking mechanism comprises a first locking element (16, 160) secured to said latching shaft (17, 170) and wherein said locking mechanism comprises a locking shaft (18, 180) and a second locking element (19, 190) secured to said locking shaft (18, 180).
 14. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said latching mechanism comprises a latching stop (14, 140) fixed in a door frame and a latching roller (13, 130) secured to said first force transmission for driving said latching roller into cooperation with said latching stop. 